It was August 27th, 2019, two years and one day ago from the writing of this article that I lost the remainder of my vision, going from severely visually impaired to totally blind. I had known and been preparing for this eventuality for years, but still did not think it would happen in a matter of a few days.

Fortunately, I was able to get a refresher in vision rehabilitation at the Carroll Center for the Blind. Preparing for vision loss when you have low vision and getting a refresher when you have lost it are totally different. The former is a more theoretical view, while the latter is aa hands-on experience with reality. My skillset was very strong, so I adapted quickly.

The only fly in the ointment was the Covid virus. I was unable to get orientation and mobility, especially on public transportation as we were quarantined. At last, I am now getting the long-awaited training I’ve been looking forward for well over a year. I expect I’ll be back on my job at the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority assessing Americans with Disabilities Act compliance soon. I will keep you all posted.

When our group attended Fenway Park to see the Red Sox in 2019, we never imagined Covid would interrupt our 2020 gathering. More salient to me was that I didn’t realize I’d be blind in six weeks. I am grateful for the support of all of my friends and family.

On August 10th of this year, 2021, our group finally was able to attend Fenway Park again. Even though the home team, the Red Sox, did not win, the comradery of meeting each other again was fantastic. It was good to meet people in person who I’ve only known on a chat line. My friends and the staff at the park went above and beyond helping our group with various accommodations.

It was exhilarating to hear the crowds, but for a moment, I felt a twinge of sadness, as I could no longer see anything in the park that I had in the past. Of course, I could rely on my memory. I quickly resolved to enjoy the fare with all my other senses. It is amazing how much you can learn about the game from the cheers and jeers of the crowd. Generally, cheers tell you that the home team has done something positive. They also play a horn sound when the team gets a home run. I did learn a small group in front of me was rooting for the opposing team, so cheered when they did something, but I soon was able to tune that section out. Also, I got descriptions from my friends sitting with me to describe important game points.

By the end of the game, the staff was very helpful in getting me to the intersection at Gate B of the park. I was going to take an Uber home. I have had no major problems with the app on my phone, it is very accessible with voice over, so I can hear what is on the screen on my phone being spoken when I use the app. My biggest criticism is not being able to have an actual person help. I instructed the application to send an Uber to my current location. This was at the intersection of two streets. I am not sure if it was the GPS or a quirk in the program, but it had everything else around me listed, but not my exact location. This happened to me once at home as well. I had it send a vehicle to my location, but realized, in time, that it was giving an address some fifty feet away. Fortunately, I was able to put in the address.

There were many people around, so I was able to get help to a nearby CVS, where somebody informed me that Ubers picked people up. They were nice enough to stay with me until my ride arrived, which wasn’t too long, even though I told them they didn’t have to.

My Uber driver was also very nice, and seemed to know a quick way to get me home that I wouldn’t have thought of. He also went into the lobby with me until he confirmed I was at the right building and was not stranded, even though I had many non-visual clues that I knew I was at the right building, from the grass on the side of the walk to other subtle clues. People earn good tips this way and should be rewarded for their kind service. I always give generous tips in situations like these.

having a great time with my friends at the park, meeting others I only knew on a phone chat line and getting out to a major event in well over a year, I learned that the best help we can get comes from the kindness of both friends and strangers. Although the Uber app was off the mark in terms of pinpointing my exact location, enough people were around to make my trip home much quicker. I could have certainly fired up an app on my phone and navigated to one of those locations around me that the Uber program told me about. It would have taken me more time and been more frustrating.

I hope you will all have a good fall, which is around the corner. Personally, this summer has been much too humid and hot for my liking, but that’s one thing about New England, the weather will change at some point. I’m looking forward to crisp autumn days.

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